Bangladesh, India sign 6 MoUs

New Delhi: Bangladesh and India have signed six memorandum of understanding (MoU) during a bilateral meeting between the foreign secretaries of the two countries at State Guesthouse Padma in Dhaka on Monday.

Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Harsh Vardhan Shringla and officials of different ministries concerned of Bangladesh have signed the MoUs on behalf of their respective sides.

A total of six documents were added to a growing list of meaningful agreements signed during the recent visits of Prime Minister Modi to Bangladesh and PM Sheikh Hasina to India.

"These include the implementation MoU on the friendship pipeline between Numaligarh and Parbatipur, an MoU on cooperation between Prasar Bharati and Bangladesh BETAR, an MoU for setting up an ICCR Urdu Chair in Dhaka University and an Addendum to the GCNEP-BAEC Interagency Agreement," Indian Foreign Secretary Vijay Keshav Gokhale said on Monday after signing the MoUs.

"We have also signed 2 more MoUs for grant projects whereby we will set up language labs in 500 schools in Bangladesh and upgrade different roads in Rangpur city. This is part of our endeavour to undertake projects in Bangladesh in various socio-economic sectors, including education, culture, health, community welfare, road infrastructure etc. for which we are providing 1600 crore taka under grant financing," the foreign secretary added.

Expressing his pleasure in visiting Bangladesh for the first time, the Indian Foreign Secretary Vijay Keshav Gokhale congratulated Bangladesh on achieving a very significant milestone in meeting the criteria for graduating from LDC to Developing Country recently.

The foreign secretary also said, "Bangladesh's humanitarian gesture in supporting lakhs of displaced persons from the Rakhine state of Myanmar is admirable," according to a press release.

The Indian foreign secretary further announced the second phase of humanitarian assistance for the relief camps in Cox's Bazar.

"Under this, medical field hospitals specially focused on women and child care with all necessary medical equipments and support systems are envisaged. Relief supplies including milk powder, baby food, dried fish, cooking stoves and cooking fuel, raincoats and gumboots are also planned," he said.

After the meeting, Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque said, "We had a very good and fruitful meeting today."

All issues including the Rohingya crisis were discussed in the meeting, the secretary said adding, "We are happy as India wants a peaceful solution to Rohingya crisis and also wants to cooperate in this regard."

During a discussion on Teesta water sharing issues, India reiterated its commitment to sign the water-treat agreement as soon as possibl, he added.

Later in the day, the Indian foreign secretary will attend a bilateral conclave on India-Bangladesh relations: "Deepening Cooperation and the way ahead" at Sonargaon Hotel.

Gokhale, who came to Dhaka yesterday afternoon for a two-day visit, will call on Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the afternoon.